OAK HARBOR - A new group of budding archers started to take aim at this sport that dates back thousands of years. But before they could take their first shots, they covered the basics as this year’s Oak Harbor Conservation Club archery classes began.

However, it wasn’t only beginners. Some students returned for a second year to continue honing their skills, and others have been coming back annually for even longer.

Gene Baker has been teaching the archery classes at the club for 25 years.

For those in their first year at the class, Baker discussed the history of archery and talked about its widespread impact around the globe.

“Years ago, that's how people defended their nations,” Baker said. “They didn’t have guns. They used bows and arrows.”

However, even long after gunpowder had rendered the bow obsolete for warfare, its prevalence persisted throughout the world.

Many cultures, including our own, still use the bow and arrow to hunt, but archery also has maintained popularity as both a modern sport and a recreational activity.

One of the appeals of archery is how the archer can sort of relive that history and those instincts, Baker said.

He explained that another primary allure of archery is in how it can be enjoyed by the whole family, as it is a sport that can truly be enjoyed by boys and girls of all ages. Bows can vary greatly in size and draw weight.

Baker’s class at the Oak Harbor Conservation Club comes equipped with a variety of bows for both children and adults.

It’s also up to the individual to decide just how competitive or leisurely they want to make their outings with a bow to be, whether limited to target shooting, practicing for competitions, or pitting yourself against wild game.